Taurine

We often see an ingredient --- taurine --- in the ingredient list of sports drinks. Taurine was first isolated from bezoar, also known as β-aminoethanesulfonic acid, taurocholine, and taurin. It is a sulfur-containing non-protein amino acid that exists in a free state in the body and does not participate in the body. Protein biosynthesis. Although taurine does not participate in protein synthesis, it reacts with glycine and GABA to act as a neuroinhibitor transmitter in tissues and blood.

Source in Human Body:

1. Self-synthesis, and the other is intake from diet. Adults generally do not need to specifically increase the content of taurine in the diet, as long as the liver function is normal, they can synthesize it by themselves.

2. Food supply. Infants, especially premature infants, have no function of synthesizing taurine due to immature enzyme synthesis system, so the taurine needed by the body must rely on food supply.

Physiological functions of taurine

1. Taurine has the effect of enhancing myocardial contraction

Taurine can inhibit platelet aggregation in blood circulation, enhance myocardial contractility, and lower blood pressure. Taurine is also used to treat heart disease and is of great help to patients with congestive heart failure. And clinically it is also used as a good drug for regulating cardiovascular diseases.

2. Taurine can promote the development of baby's brain

The content of taurine in the brain is very rich. Taurine can significantly promote the growth and development of the nervous system and cell proliferation. If the newborn is not supplemented enough, it will lead to slow growth and development of the child. Taurine in breast milk, especially in colostrum Rich in content, infant formula milk powder also contains taurine, and taurine is closely related to the development of the central nervous system of the fetus and young children and the development of the retina.


3. Taurine has the effect of fighting anxiety and promoting learning ability

Taurine is a regulator of the human nervous system, and taurine is very helpful for people with bipolar disorder. Taurine can also promote learning and memory, improve the accuracy of learning and memory, and prevent the aging of the nervous system.

4. Taurine can improve visual function

The reason why cats and owls can hunt at night has a lot to do with their eyesight. The main source of taurine in cats and owls is from mice, which are rich in taurine in mice. Taurine can help maintain normal visual function , protect eyesight, improve vision, and help maintain normal function of eye cell membrane.

5. Taurine can promote fat metabolism

Taurine combines with bile acids to form taurocholic acid. Taurocholic acid can increase the solubility of lipids and cholesterol in the digestive tract, help promote fat metabolism and absorption, and at the same time relieve bile obstruction and reduce the excretion of certain free bile acids. Cytotoxicity, inhibition of cholesterol gallstone formation, increase of bile flow, etc.




6. Taurine can promote the effect of lowering blood sugar

Taurine can bind to insulin receptors, promote cell uptake and utilization of glucose, accelerate glycolysis, and lower blood sugar concentration. Taurine has a certain hypoglycemic effect, and does not depend on increasing the release of insulin.

7. Taurine can inhibit the occurrence of cataract

Taurine has important functions such as regulating crystal osmotic pressure and anti-oxidation. During the development of cataract, the content of sorbic acid in the lens increases, and the crystal osmotic pressure increases, while the concentration of taurine, an important substance for regulating osmotic pressure, decreases significantly. The antioxidant effect is weakened, and the protein in the crystal is over-oxidized, which causes or aggravates the occurrence of cataract. Supplementing taurine can inhibit the occurrence and development of cataract.

8. Taurine has the effect of producing energy and eliminating fatigue

Taurine can protect the myocardium to maintain heart function, make blood circulation normal, thereby eliminating fatigue products, so that the body can effectively produce energy. Therefore, it is often added to sports drinks and energy drinks.